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Kenya

© Shutterstock/Thammanoon Khamchalee

Explore Kenya

Kenya's underwater world is as mesmerizing as its famed savannahs. Diving along the country's coast offers a unique experience, revealing vibrant coral reefs, dramatic walls, and historic shipwrecks. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean provide excellent conditions for both novice and experienced divers, with visibility often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet. Popular dive spots include Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Watamu Marine Park, where divers can explore the rich biodiversity of the reefs and encounter species like sea turtles, reef sharks, and an astonishing variety of colorful fish.

Liveaboard trips and boat dives are common, allowing divers to explore more remote sites, while shore dives offer easy access to beautiful underwater landscapes. Seasonal changes bring diverse marine life, such as the migration of whale sharks, making each dive a unique adventure. Kenya's diving scene is not just about the marine ecosystem; it also includes a blend of cultural encounters with coastal communities, adding depth to the overall experience. Whether you're drifting along coral gardens or exploring a sunken wreck, diving in Kenya provides an unforgettable journey into the heart of the ocean.

Power Plug Type
G
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX
Tipping
5–10% / Service Staff & Guides / Tipping is expected in restaurants, hotels, and tours; amount may vary based on service quality
Airports
NBO, MBA
Currency
KES
Dial Code
+254
Electricity
240 V / 50 Hz
Time
UTC+3

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

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Top Wildlife Sightings in Kenya

Kenya's marine ecosystems, particularly along the Indian Ocean coastline, are rich with diverse marine life. Common reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish populate the vibrant coral reefs, offering divers a colorful underwater spectacle year-round. These species are abundant and can be seen in popular diving spots like Watamu and Malindi Marine Parks.

Seasonal highlights include the migration of whale sharks, primarily sighted from November to March. Green and hawksbill turtles are also commonly encountered, especially around designated conservation areas like the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve. Additionally, manta rays and various types of reef sharks can be seen at certain times of the year, enhancing the diving experience. Being aware of these seasonal patterns increases the likelihood of encountering these majestic creatures.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

1.7k Sightings
J
126
F
121
M
188
A
141
M
62
J
73
J
126
A
235
S
132
O
184
N
114
D
164

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

1.1k Sightings
J
104
F
104
M
169
A
78
M
37
J
51
J
55
A
86
S
72
O
114
N
100
D
100
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

697 Sightings
J
61
F
54
M
83
A
89
M
26
J
34
J
27
A
56
S
54
O
69
N
59
D
85

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

543 Sightings
J
51
F
44
M
93
A
36
M
16
J
19
J
37
A
49
S
46
O
75
N
41
D
36

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

142 Sightings
J
18
F
18
M
17
A
9
M
8
J
6
J
5
A
13
S
14
O
8
N
10
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

122 Sightings
J
20
F
25
M
28
A
5
M
3
J
2
J
3
A
5
S
4
O
4
N
17
D
6
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

49 Sightings
J
5
F
8
M
3
A
4
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
7
S
5
O
6
N
3
D
5
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

42 Sightings
J
15
F
3
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
1
A
1
S
5
O
7
N
1
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

932 Sightings
J
85
F
94
M
146
A
64
M
18
J
39
J
45
A
122
S
82
O
108
N
72
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

919 Sightings
J
85
F
94
M
129
A
67
M
19
J
40
J
50
A
124
S
63
O
85
N
72
D
91

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

715 Sightings
J
83
F
98
M
108
A
49
M
11
J
28
J
32
A
81
S
48
O
82
N
37
D
58

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

668 Sightings
J
86
F
82
M
94
A
50
M
14
J
18
J
29
A
67
S
46
O
80
N
49
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

645 Sightings
J
69
F
77
M
116
A
29
M
12
J
27
J
31
A
58
S
59
O
72
N
42
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

623 Sightings
J
64
F
79
M
95
A
45
M
4
J
13
J
20
A
67
S
44
O
65
N
63
D
64

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

562 Sightings
J
44
F
76
M
94
A
33
M
14
J
18
J
21
A
57
S
56
O
70
N
34
D
45

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

529 Sightings
J
59
F
49
M
65
A
46
M
12
J
25
J
29
A
51
S
49
O
52
N
47
D
45

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

513 Sightings
J
46
F
52
M
62
A
33
M
22
J
26
J
42
A
67
S
42
O
58
N
29
D
34

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

503 Sightings
J
65
F
47
M
58
A
29
M
7
J
26
J
20
A
55
S
48
O
67
N
35
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

484 Sightings
J
50
F
34
M
49
A
33
M
12
J
25
J
27
A
59
S
37
O
51
N
32
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

451 Sightings
J
61
F
59
M
79
A
22
M
5
J
12
J
25
A
33
S
25
O
54
N
18
D
58

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

420 Sightings
J
43
F
27
M
70
A
21
M
4
J
19
J
24
A
43
S
52
O
51
N
31
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

400 Sightings
J
51
F
33
M
60
A
19
M
12
J
15
J
14
A
30
S
22
O
58
N
51
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

310 Sightings
J
49
F
40
M
55
A
15
M
5
J
7
J
8
A
42
S
17
O
30
N
22
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

308 Sightings
J
30
F
42
M
80
A
18
M
4
J
7
J
3
A
13
S
27
O
43
N
17
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

288 Sightings
J
42
F
45
M
51
A
23
M
0
J
7
J
11
A
19
S
14
O
25
N
18
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

241 Sightings
J
29
F
51
M
53
A
14
M
3
J
3
J
12
A
13
S
16
O
16
N
14
D
17
Leaf Scorpionfish

Leaf Scorpionfish

234 Sightings
J
18
F
19
M
13
A
19
M
17
J
23
J
32
A
24
S
21
O
14
N
16
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

201 Sightings
J
21
F
22
M
55
A
9
M
1
J
12
J
7
A
8
S
20
O
26
N
8
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

194 Sightings
J
18
F
29
M
51
A
13
M
3
J
6
J
10
A
12
S
15
O
21
N
7
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

174 Sightings
J
30
F
24
M
35
A
10
M
1
J
0
J
5
A
8
S
15
O
19
N
8
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

163 Sightings
J
22
F
6
M
21
A
10
M
5
J
6
J
9
A
7
S
17
O
27
N
13
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

143 Sightings
J
13
F
9
M
20
A
11
M
2
J
3
J
3
A
2
S
11
O
29
N
21
D
19
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

121 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
9
A
15
M
7
J
9
J
9
A
12
S
20
O
11
N
8
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

106 Sightings
J
20
F
19
M
10
A
5
M
4
J
0
J
7
A
4
S
3
O
7
N
13
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

104 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
9
A
13
M
6
J
11
J
5
A
10
S
15
O
15
N
6
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

101 Sightings
J
17
F
12
M
17
A
2
M
2
J
3
J
2
A
6
S
4
O
21
N
8
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Snake Eel

Snake Eel

100 Sightings
J
20
F
4
M
24
A
1
M
3
J
1
J
0
A
4
S
5
O
10
N
7
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

92 Sightings
J
16
F
14
M
15
A
9
M
2
J
1
J
4
A
8
S
8
O
3
N
6
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

88 Sightings
J
21
F
7
M
17
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
5
A
8
S
4
O
9
N
6
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

85 Sightings
J
19
F
12
M
24
A
6
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
1
S
7
O
11
N
2
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

69 Sightings
J
9
F
11
M
26
A
2
M
0
J
3
J
3
A
2
S
2
O
5
N
5
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

63 Sightings
J
14
F
6
M
20
A
6
M
2
J
1
J
2
A
0
S
1
O
3
N
6
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Guitarfish

Guitarfish

59 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
6
J
5
J
17
A
7
S
7
O
8
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

58 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
12
A
9
M
5
J
1
J
3
A
5
S
3
O
3
N
2
D
6

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